Machine for charging and discharging annealing ovens, etc.



Mal-ch20, 192s; 1,663,370

H. E. EDWARDS MACHINE FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING ANNEALING OVENS, ETC.

Filed Feb. 1. 1927 WITNESS S ATTORNEY March 20, 1928.

' H. E. EDWARDS MACHINE FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING ANNEALING OVENS ETC.

Filed Feb. 7 l. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY Patented d Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES HARRY E. EDWARDS, or'-mrins, onro.

'MACHINE FOR CHARGING ANl) DISCHARGING ANNEALING OVENS, ETC.

Application filedlFebruary 1, 1927. Serial No. 165,183.

This invention relates to machines for charging and discharging annealingovens or the like.

One object isto provide amachine of this character which is .especially designed for handling sheets of'thinumetal, such .as tin plate in quantities, to elevate the same and carry them into an annealing oven under extreme heat and to lOWBTlShG loadito rest upon is suitablev supports withinxthe oven, and then to be withdrawn from .the oven,, when the said. sheets may besubjected to thenecessary heat treatment therein .to be later removed from the oven by the improved machine in an obvious manner. s

, Another object is to provide a strong and durablemachine which isicapable of easily and uniformly lifting theexcessive loads placed thereon with all friction reduced to a -rninimum and of transporting said load into the oven while the load is supported directly upon the axles of bearing wheels arranged in pairs and so shaped as to co-act with corresponding tracks to prevent all lateral movement or tendency ,to tilt, and at the same time to permit the loadedmachine to beqeasilyimoved under power. into or out of the oven. q I

A final object is to provide a chargingand discharging machine which-may be readily installed in front of anr'oven as one of a battery of suchmachinesfor tending a-plurality of ovens, all-off said machinesibeing. adapted to be moved into or out of the ovens by a common drive shaft I having gear connections which may bearrangedto simul taneously-shift all of the machines, or to independently move thesame, and each machine having separate controlling means at thereon. r

A full and completeunderstanding of: the inventionmay be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawingsforming a part. of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not tobe confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but maybe changed or. modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the. salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar referits rear end for raising or lowering the loadence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures: t

Figure 1 is a side elevationof the improved machine mounted foruse in connection with anannealing oven.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. i,

1 Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the'front end; of the machine, and illustratingthe means for moving theisa me intoandout ofthe oven. p i, s i t Figure & is a longitudinalsectional view through ithe rear portion of the machine, parts being omitted. U p p r i Figure 5 isadetail lan view of the base frame or .carriage of tile machine.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 4:, andllooking in the direction 'of'the arrow.

Figure 7 is a detail side elevation of'one of the elevating bars oftheimacliine.

i The illustrated embodiment of the,invention. comprises a main frame or carriage or elongated form v and adapted to carry stacks of sheet tin or other metal in its usualcommerci-alisize and form, though itis tobe understood that said carriage may be of other size and proportions to adapt thesame for handling other articlesor commodities. The frame includes spaced, parallel side -members, each of which is composed of ,a

pair of sills of equallength andheldinrigid, spaced; relation to each other andextending fromf endto endof the frame, i

The outer sills 1. and the inner sills .2, which-are formed of suitable rolledlor cast metal, are each provided with an upstanding flange 3 located. at itheirjnner, opposite faces, and a space or cavity ,4 is provided by depending walls/5 formed on; each of the. sills. The inner and outer walls'oeare provided adjacent to their lowerfedges iwith spaced apertures located in exact transverse alinement, and adapted to receive azseries of axles or spindles 6 rigidly held in their seats by set screws 6 which are threaded up through apertures formed in the bottoms of the walls, as shown in Figure 3. of'theIdrawmgs. y

.Mountedzon each of the spindles G and abutting againstthe inner faces of the walls 5 isa pairof wheels 7, preferably formed of solid metal, and adapted to freely rotate upon thespindle and independntlyiof each other. The wheels occupy the aforesand space ,orcaVity 4 at either side and have either peripheries formed into V-shape, the

peripheral edge being slightly rounded to co-act with tracks 9, having spaced grooves 10 for receiving the wheels to prevent any lateral movement of the same.

Rollers or bushings ll, formedrof hardened steel, are located on the central portions of the spindles between the wheels to rotate independently thereof, and the said spindles are preferably bored longitudinally to receive a charge of grease or other lubricant through the usual cup 12 located at the inner ends of the spindles, there being proper outlets to lubricate the wheels and rollers in a well-known manner. v

The top walls of the outer sills 1 extend somewhat beyond the depending wall 5 7 thereof to provide seats 13 into which there are bolted or otherwise secured rack bars 14, having a continuous series of teeth 15 along their lower edges which are engaged by gear wheels 16 mounted on a continuous line shaft 17, located beneath the tracks and in bearings 18 secured to the bottom of a pit or channel 19 formed in the floor, which is preferably made of concrete, as clearly shown in Figure l of the drawings. 7

The tracks 10 extend into the door A of the oven B, and are suitably supported therein to stand the strain of supporting the loaded machine when the latter is charging the oven. The tracks extend outwardly the full length of the machine or beyond the same, there being, as has been stated, a pair of tracks and a machine for each oven, so that the line or drive shaft 17 is extended crosswise of the entire battery from any suitable source of power, and the machines may be all operated simultaneously to charge the ovens, etc., or, by suitable clutch i mechanism (not shown), the several pairs of gears 16 may be thrown into or out of connectionwith the. line shaft, and the several machines made to operate independently.

The several spindles 6 held as described, by the set screws 6, serve to hold the inner and outer sills in proper spaced relation throughout the major portions of their lengths, and at their outer or rear ends the said sills are secured to a filler block orbar 20, and the two inner sills are joined together by a cross bar 2f located near their centers, and by a rear cross bar 21 located adjacent to their ends.

Mounted between the upstanding flanges 3 of the sills is a pair of load supporting and elevating bars 22, which extend from the front end of the frame to within a short distance of the rear end thereof, said bars being freely movable up and down and to swing rearwardly but, by reason of the close contactwith the inner faces of the flanges 3, all lateral movement is eliminated.

These bars rest on their under surfaces upon the aforesaid rollers or bushings 11, so that any weight placed upon the same is taken directly by the spindles and the wheels 7, the lower portions of the side faces of the bars being indented so as not to bear upon the bevelled upper portions of the several wheels.

The supporting bars are provided on their under sides with a series of depending lugs or enlargements 23, there being an enlargement for each of the wheels, except the two rear pairs of wheels, as shown in Figures 1 and etof the drawings. The enlargements have each an inclined cam face 24L on the rear side thereof, and a flat or horizontal face 25 on the bottoms thereof, and when the bars are at their lowermost positions, the beginning of said cam faces are close to the rollers 11 so that, when said bars are drawn or pulled rear-wardly, in a manner to be described, the inclined surfaces immediately begin to roll upon the rollers with the re-' sult that said bars are simultaneously elevated until the lower flat faces 25 are drawn onto the rollers, when the bars, together with any load placed thereon, will remain in said elevated position.

The rear ends of the bars 22 are formed with upstanding projections 26 provided with suitable horizontal apertures for the reception of the front ends of pull rods 27,

which are flexiblyconnected thereto by vertical bolts 28, there being sufficient play where'the rods fit in said apertures, and where the bolts 28 traverse the rods 27 to permit the latter to partake of considerable up and down rocking movement for a purpose to be explained.

The rear ends of the pull rods 27 extend somewhat beyond the rear end of the main frame, and are therejoined together by a cross head 29, suitable nuts being threaded on to the ends of the rods to maintain such connection, The cross head, which is in the form of a metal block, is provided in its front face with a central concave seat 30 A into which loosely fits the correspondingly shaped end of a plunger 31, which projects from the rear end of a hydraulic cylinder 32, which rests upon a cradle piece -21 at the rear end of the frame, and is suitably secured to the frame to rigidly fasten the same in position.

At the front closed end the cylinder is provided with av head 33, having lateral extensions in which are formed upright slots 3% -(see Figure 6), which are open at their upper ends, and which receive the pull rods and allow the latter to partake of the aforesaid rocking movement which is the result of the upward movement of the bars 22 to which the front ends of the pull rods are connected while the rear ends of the rods move in a horizontal plane together with the cross head.

Substantially midway between the conlul nection 26 and the guide 34., each pullrod'is provided with a stopcollar which, preferably, is adjustably secured to the same, and interposed between the collar and the said guide, is an expansion spring 36, the said springs serving to maintain the contact between the cross head and the plunger. 31, when pressure is released within the cylinder and said plunger moves forwardly, and said springs also serve to cause the lifting and supporting bars 22 to ride forwardly and downwardly when the load thereon has been carried into'the oven and is in position to be left therein. 1

Mounted on the base frame, in advance of the cylinder and upon a suitable supporting base, is a hydraulic pump of any desired form as indicated at 37, and said pump is adapted to be operated, preferably by an electric motor 38, the fluid under pressure, being conducted to the'pressure cylinder-by a pipe 39, having a suitable control valve 40 therein.

With the machine withdrawn from the oven, as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, the sheet metal plates or other load, is placed crosswise upon the supporting bars 22, so as to rest equally thereon, said bars being in elevated position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. By'means of the gears 16 and racks 14, either one or all of the machines, as stated, may now be moved into the oven or ovens B, the'pressure being maintained within the cylinder or cylinders 82 serving to hold the loads in elevated position with the fiatfa'ces 25 of the lugs or projections resting upon the rollers 11. When the carriage or frame is advanced fully into the oven, the pressure is released and the springs, by expanding, start the downward movement of the supporting bars along the inclined faces 24 to deposit the marginal portions of said sheets or other load upon suitable shelves 41, located within the ovens andv at the sides thereof. When the bars are lowered, the ma chine is withdrawn from the oven, and the baking or annealing process proceeds, after the door or opening A of the oven has been closed by suitable means (not shown).

From the foregoing, it is thought a full and comprehensive understanding of the in vention and the operations thereof, may be had and it will be seen that a strong and durable machine has been provided which is adapted to handle great quantities of sheet metal or other heavy loads to move the same into and out of ovens or the like, the lifting means at either side of the machine being caused to move simultaneously, and to uni formly elevate or lower said load in removing or placing the latter upon the supports within the oven.

hat is claimed is:

l. A machine for charging ovens or the like comprising a movable base frame, antifriction devices carried by the base frame, load-supporting bars mounted over the base frame and having inclined. cam surfaces on their under sides to ride on the anti-friction devices, a pressure cylinder mounted on the base frame, arms connected to the supporting bars to move the latter longitudinally when the pressure is admitted to the cylinder to cause the bars to elevatea load thereon, and springs on said arms to retract the bars and release the load.

' 2. In a machine for charging or discharg ing annealing ovens or the like, an elongated base frame or carriage adapted to be moved longitudinally into and out of said oven, said frame comprising spaced, parallel side members rigidly held together, each member having spaced, parallel sills, transverse spindlesinounted in" the sills, spaced hearing wheels mounted on the spindles and having bevelled peripheries, a longitudinal track having parallel grooves for each series of wheels, rollers mounted on the spindles between the pairs of wheels, a longitudinal supporting bar mountedbetwee'neach pair of sills and-having depending-portions bearing upon said rollers, the rear sides of said portions being inclined to ride up said rollers and elevate the bars when the'latter are moved rearwardly.

3. In a machine for changing or discharging annealing ovens or the like, a frame or carriage comprising parallel side mem bers rigidly held together and each including'a pair of spaced sills, spindles connecting' said sillstogether, a pair of spaced bearing wheels mounted to rotate on each of said spindles, tracks adapted to the wheels to permit the frame or carriage to be moved into or out of the oven, a rack bar carried by each of the side members, a transverse line shaft having gear wheels meshing with the racks to move the frame or carriage, load supporting and elevating bars mounted between the sills and over the spindles, rollers mounted on the latter between the wheels and supporting the bars, depending portions formed on the lower face of the bars be tween the wheels and having inclined rear faces to bear on the rollers, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the rear end of the frame,

means mounted on the frame for forcing fluid into the cylinder, and means connected to the rear ends of the bars to pull the latter rearwardly and cause the load supporting bars to be elevated when pressure is admitted to the cylinder and the inclined faces ride upon the rollers.

4c. In a machine for charging or discharging annealing ovens or the like, a frame, means for moving the frame into and out of the oven, rollers mounted in the sides of the frame, opposite longitudinally-disposed load supporting bars mounted in the sides of the frame and having cam surfaces on their under sides to rest upon said rollers, a pull rod flexibly connected to the rear end or" each supporting bar, a transverse cross head connected to the outer ends of the rods, a hydraulic cylinder mounted longitudinally on the rear end of the frame between the rods and having a plunger bearing rearwardly against the cross head, and means for forcing fluid into the cylinder to move the supporting barsrearwardly and upwardly to elevate a load thereon.

5. In a machine for charging or discharging annealing ovens or the like, a longitudinally movable supporting frame having supporting wheels mounted on tracks to be run into and out of the oven, opposite racks carried by the sides of the frame, a transversely disposed shaft located beneath the tracks and having gear wheels meshing with the racks to shift the frame, spaced rollers mounted to independently rotate on the wheel spindles, a load supporting bar longitudinally mounted in each side of the frame, each bar having a plurality of spaced depending cam portions on its under side, said portions including an inclined rear face to ride upon the rollers when the bars are longitudinally moved and a flat lower face to rest on the roller and hold the bar in elevated position, a rearwardly-extending pull rod flexibly connected to the rear end of each bar, a transverse cross head connected to the rear ends of the pull rods, a cylinder longitudinally mounted on the frame and centrally between the rods, controllable means for exerting pressure within the cylinder, a plunger extending rearwardly from the cylinder, said plunger having a rounded end bearing against the cross head to allow the same to rock upwardly, vertical guides mounted on the cylinder, said guides being traversed by the pull rods, stops mounted on said rods and expansion springs mounted on the rods between the guides and stops to return the supporting bars to lowered position when pressure is released in the cylinder.

6. In a machine for charging and discharging ovens, a frame or carriage includ ing side members rigidly connected together at their central portions and rear ends to maintain them in spaced parallel relation, each side member comprising parallel sills having depending flanges, transverse spindles connecting the flanges and holding the sills in spaced relation, spaced bearing wheels mounted on the spindles and having i-shaped peripheries, rollers mounted on the spindles between the wheels to independently rotate thereon, means mounted within the side members to bear and roll on the rollers for shifting a load thereon, and tracks coacting with the wheels to permit the frame to be run into the furnace and having spaced, parallel grooves to receive the l-shaped peripheries of the wheels and prevent lateral movement of the frame or carriage. r

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed'my signature.

HARRY E. EDWARDS. 

